Rosa Parks Tweet Leads To GOP Controversy

A tweet about Rosa Parks has led to a GOP controversy. On Sunday, the Republican National Committee posted a tweet that implied the civil rights leader ended racism. The message sparked outrage from numerous people who pointed out that racism is far from over.

Numerous Twitter users responded to the message using the hashtag #RacismEndedWhen. The users were outraged by the implication that racism has ended. In addition to the tweet, the committee also posted a statement to GOP.gov. However, instead of implying racism is over, the statement praised Parks’ role “in fighting racism and ending segregation.” The statement also acknowledged that injustice remains a critical issue.

In response to the Twitter controversy, The RNC posted a tweet to clarify the previous message. The revised statement said “previous tweet should have read ‘today we remember Rosa Parks’ bold stand and her role in fighting to end racism.'”

Rosa Parks was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, in February 1913. She grew up amid racial segregation, which was prominent at the time. The segregation included public buildings and modes of transportation. Segregation on public buses was required by the Montgomery City Code. Bus drivers were given the authority to enforce segregation laws on “any bus for the purposes of carrying out the provisions.”

According to the law, separate seats were assigned to black and white passengers. White passengers were assigned to seats in the front of the bus, while blacks were forced to sit in the back. Although it was not specified in the law, bus drivers routinely asked black passengers to give up their seats if there weren’t enough available for white passengers.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was riding the bus home from her job as a seamstress at a department store. As the bus became overcrowded, the driver asked Parks to leave her seat to allow a white passenger to sit down. Biography.com reports that Parks refused, stating “I don’t think I should have to stand up.”

Previous tweet should have read “Today we remember Rosa Parks’ bold stand and her role in fighting to end racism.”

Parks’ refusal to leave her seat eventually led to her arrest. Parks was charged with violating the Montgomery City Code. The arrest sparked the interest of NAACP leader E.D. Nixon. On the day of Rosa Parks’ trial, Nixon organized a boycott of the Montgomery city buses.

Rosa Parks’ refusal to leave her seat did not end racism. However, it brought national attention to racism, segregation, and inequality. Although our nation has made notable progress, the battle for equality is far from over.